Claregalway 10k

MikeBriggs · Claregalway 10k

On Saturday I was down in Galway, Ireland for a long weekend and being slightly sad I had checked the Irish race calendar a few weeks before and entered the County Galway 10k Champs for if anything, a decent workout whilst away.

So after a 7:30 flight and a 5 hour drive I was pretty tired (6pm Saturday race start...random) but I was there now so just get on the start line and it'll be over before you know it.

The course was country roads over typical Irish terrain, i.e. pretty hilly. 3 long hills on par with the 1st hill at the Brentwood 10k. 2 laps so 6 hills effectively. Joy.

I started off steadily as this tactic worked well at Brentwood and found myself in 8th, leaders moving away but happy to run my own race. On the 1st 2 hills I started to wind 7th in and overtook him only for a short time as he was more comfortable on the downhills and stretched ahead. 5k just under 18 minutes and I was feeling as if maybe I could stick with this pace. It was a time trial for the next 2 miles as I was all alone, digging in on the ups and trying to keep the legs turning on the downs. I was through the toughest part of the race with times looking good, 5:55 and 6:05 for miles 4 and 5. 1 mile to go and a PB was on the cards as long as I could get to the bottom of the hill.

9th place had now come up alongside me and I was doubting if I could stay with him. The pace quickened with 1k to go as it was all downhill and he seemed the more comfortable. 800 to go, I was losing touch, a stride back now. 600 to go, I kicked for home. A mistake I thought almost immediately, way too early, but maybe it would scare him off and he would concede. It didn't. 400 to go, he would not yield, a few metres was my lead. 300 to go, I kicked again and this time no response from the Irishman, I had secured 8th with 200 to go but dug in deep for the time. 36:18, a PB by 1 min 1 sec. A slightly confused Irishman on the loadspeaker introduced me over the line as 'number terty-eight, Michael Briggs from Ben...Benfoot Rowing Club' ???? Obviously the Benfleet fanbase does not stretch to the West of Ireland.

Obviously pleased with the time and race position in a Championship race. The Guinness' were well deserved. Every single one

MikeBriggs

Place Time Number First Name(s) Surname Athletic Club Category
1 00:32:45 128 Matthew Lockett GCH SM

8 00:36:18 38 Michael Briggs Benfleet RC (UK) SM

Karl C

Well done Mike

debbie g

That is seriously impressive Mike. Congratulations! I knew you had better things to come. However I will remind you my Thrift Green time was 43:05 so I expect kindness towards me on our Essex Way practice run on Sunday! :blackeye:

Co-Skipper

Mike that is superb - and that time has been in you for months at least, so it is good to see it finally count. You can't have a 5k PB of 17.20 and have a 10k PB over 37! Thankfully you have put that one to bed.

Graham's earlier assessment of you getting under 37 minutes (after Brentwood) proved to be correct in a Usain Bolt kind of fashion.

Well done. Now to find the most downhill, non-measured 10k one could possibly find...

MikeBriggs

I had the normal Benfleet vest on, I have no idea why the announcer thought Benfleet RC was a Rowing Club!?!

Thanks guys, I thought I had a better time in me for 10k, hopefully I can carry the form into a flat Southend 10k

david thomson

really well done mike , you should be much faster than that come southend

Graham

Great time junior!!

Still nailing big PB's - I reckon you're going to be challenging for race podium positions pretty soon at this rate of improvement.

Keep training hard and buy yourself a trophy cabinet.